Locking mechanism



June 21, 1938. M. TIBBETTS I I LOCKING MECHANISM Filed June 18, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 21, 1938. M. TIBBETTS 2,121,060

LOCKING MECHANISM Filed June 18, 1934 I5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 21 1938 PATENT OFFICE LOCKING MECHANISM Milton Tibbetts, Detroit, Mich.-, assignor to Packard Motor Car Company, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application June 18, 1934, Serial No. 731,016

29 Claims.

This invention relates to locking mechanism and particularly to looks ofthe combination type. In some ways the invention is an improvement 'upon or development from the locking mechanism shown in my Patent No. 1,726,202, dated August 27, 1929. Some of the objects are similar to those of that patent, and particularly is it an object of this invention to provide a lock that will not only require no greater effort on the part of the operator to leave it locked than to leave it unlocked but will also require no greater effort to unlock the lock than is required to release a latched part or throw a switch that has been left unlocked.

The invention may be said to be an improvement upon the old Tucker type of combination lock such as shown in Reissue Patent No. 5,566 dated September 9, 1873. It is an object of this invention to transform a very simple type of combination locking mechanism having relatively few combinations, such as the Tucker mechanism for instance, into a combination looking mechanism having a very large number of combinations. The number of combinations is usually squared. Thus where the Tucker lock with five finger pieces has thirty-two combinations, the mechanism of this invention, with the same number of finger pieces, will have 32x32 or 1024 combinations.

But the principles underlying the invention are adaptable to many different kinds of locks and in many diiferent ways. Another object may be said to be to provide a lock mechanism in which a single incorrect manipulation of the releasing means effects a large increase in the number of possible inoperative combinations of the lock. Still another object is to so combine two combinations or combination lock devices that the incorrect manipulation of one will require the correct manipulation of both in correct sequence to release the locked part. Another object is to provide a combination lock such that tampering with it will be revealed at once to the operator as he attempts to open the lock.

Three adaptations of the invention are illustrated herein. In the first the invention is shown in a lock having five tumblers which will provide thirty-one combinations, not counting the zero combination which would be difficult to operate in the form shown. With the throw-out mechanism bringing into use the double combination this will provide 961 combinations. The mechanism is in skeleton form without a casing, only the essential elements being shown in order that the operating parts may be more clearly seen and understood. This adaptation is illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive.

In the second adaptation, Figs. 5 to 9, the invention is shown in a lock of the Tucker type such as in Patents Reissue No. 5,566 and No. 1,726,202, referred to above. The adaptation is to the ignition switch of an automobile.

In thethird adaptation, Figs. to 16, the invention is mounted in a handle such as the door handle of an automobile. are shown but it will be understood that in this and in the other forms the number of tumblers may be increased or decreased as desired or as space or cost permits. lustrated by two tumblers, or six or a dozen tumblers may be used and the number of combinations very greatly multiplied.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view ofv a mechanism embodying one form of the invention;

Fig. 2 shows a portion of thedevice shown in Fig. 1, with the parts in another position;

Fig. 3 is a detail view of one of the tumblers;

Fig. 4 is a similar view of a tumbler in reversed position on the support bar;

Fig.5 is a view of a portion of an automobile with another form of the invention adapted thereto; I

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail view of this second form of the invention, part of the section being on the line 6-6 of Fig. '7, the mechanism shown in full lines being in the normal single locked position and, in dotted lines, after unlocking by manipulation by the correct primary combinations;

Fig. 7 is a section substantially on the line 'l--'l of Fig; 6;

Fig. 8 is a section on the line 88 of Fig. 6; Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 6, showing the parts just after having been operated from double locked position by manipulation of the secondary combination to restore the parts to single locked position. When the hand releases the keys the parts will return to the position shown in full lines in Fig. 6;

.Fig. 10 is a view of a portion of an automobile showing a door handle to which the invention may be applied;

Fig. 11 is an enlarged detail view of this third form of the invention, the section being substantially on the line Hll of Fig. 10, some of the parts being shown in both full line and dotted line positions;

Fig. 12 is a section substantially on the line l2-l2 of Fig. 11;

Only three tumblers The principle may be il- Fig. 13 is a section on the line |3--|3 of Fig. 11, with some of the parts omitted for clearness;

Fig. 14 is a cross section on the line |4|4 of Fig. 11;

Fig. 14a is a fragmentary view showing some of the parts of Fig. 14 in a different position;

Fig. 15 is a cross section on the line I5|5 of Fig. 11;

Fig. 15a is a fragmentary view showing some of the parts of Fig. 15 in a different position, and

Fig. 16 is a cross section on the line |6-|6 of Fig. 11.

Referring to the form of invention shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, only the supporting parts of the casing for the mechanism are shown. Thus there is a supporting part 20 in which is mounted one end of a support bar 2|, the other end being mounted in a similar bearing, not shown. This support bar 2| has a limited rotary movement,

a stop 22 cooperating with pins or stops 23 and 24 in the bar. A spring 25 yieldingly presses the support bar with its stop 24 against the stop 22.

Upon the support bar 2| five tumblers 26 are mounted in spaced relation. to each other. Each of these five tumblers may oscillate to a limited extent on the support bar, the degree of oscillation being determined by a lug 21 and slot 28. A spring 29 presses the tumbler in one direction as shown particularly in Fig. 1. Each of the tumblers 26 has a finger piece 30 for operating it. All of. the tumblers are alike but they may be mounted on the support bar in either of two positions, and as shown in the drawings two of the tumblers are in one position and the other three in another position. For the purpose of differentiating the tumblers they are numbered in sequence in Fig. 1, beginning at the left, I, 2, 3, 4 and 5. Tumblers I and 3 are set on the support bar in one position and tumblers 2, 4 and 5 are in the reverse position. These positions and the meaning thereof will be later more fully described.

Each of the tumblers is formed with a reversible block 3| having a notch 32 in its outer face, one side of the notch being beveled as shown at 33. A screw 34 retains the block in either of its two positions, the block being shown in the position in 'tumblers and 2 in Fig. 1 and in the reverse position in tumblers 3, 4 and 5. In Fig. 1 the block securing screw .is not shown.

Each of the tumblers 26 is also formed with a peripheral notch 35, a radial lug 36 and a peripheral notch 37 which is beveled at one side as shown at 38. There is a peripheral part 39 between the notch 35 and the lug 36, another peripheral part 40 between the lug 36 and the notch 32 and another peripheral part 4| between the notches 32 and 31.

Another supporting part of the casing is represented by two brackets 56 from which a lock release bar 5| is supported by means of a double bar link 52 and arms 53, the arms being pivoted to the release bar and the link respectively. Connected to the lock release bar 5| is a return bar 54, the connection being by rigid links 55, and both the release bar 5| and the return bar 54 yieldingly rest on the tumblers as shown in Fig. 1.

A look release lever 56 is shown as pivoted at 51 to a suitable support 58, and one arm 59 of this lever operates against a pin 60 which will trip the look when pushed downwardly. The

trip part of the lock beyond the pin 66 is not shown. The other arm 6| of the release lever 56 has a pointed nose 62 extending partly into the crotch formed by the release bar 5| and the the pin 60 is in its locked position ready to be pushed down to trip the lock to which it may be connected. The release bar 5| rests directly over the notches 35 in tumblers 2, 4 and 5. Tumblers and 3 are in a position reversed from that of theother three tumblers, and notches 3'! of tumblers and 3 are a short distance to the right of the release bar 5|, as shown in Fig. 1, so that the bar rests on the periphery of tumblers l and 3 where that periphery joins the beveled part 38 of the notches 31. Thus the bar 5| is prevented from dropping into the notches 35 of tumblers 2, 4 and 5. This means that the correct combination to trip the lock requires the movement of tumblers and 3 but without the movement of any of the other three tumblers. This may be called the primary combination. Thus if tumblers and 3 have their finger pieces 36 pulled towards the right in Fig. 1 so that those tumblers will oscillate on the support bar 2| as far as they can go, the notches 3'! of those two tumblers will be directly under the bar 5| and that bar will drop down into those notches and into the notches 35 of tumblers 2, 4 and 5. However, if at the same time tumblers and 3 are pulled tumbler No. 5 is also pulled, the peripheral part 39 of tumbler No. 5 would then be under the bar 5| and that bar would be prevented from dropping into the notches of the other tumblers.

But presuming that the correct combination has been pulled, that is, that tumblers and 3 have been pulled so that the release bar 5| drops into the lined-up notches of the five tumblers, there must, of course, be a further movement of the mechanism to trip the look. This is done by continuing the pull on the tumblers and 3 so that they carry the support bar 2| around with them. As this is done the release bar 5| which is in the notch 31 of tumbler No. slides under the nose 62 of the release lever 56 and pushes that lever so that it turns about its pivot 5'! and this, of course, rocks the arm 59 downwardly against the pin 66 and the latter is moved to trip or operate the lock. The limit of movement is determined by the pin 23 striking against the stop 22. As the operators hand releases the pressure on the tumblers and 3 the parts return to their initial position, first by reason of the spring 25 rocking the support bar 2|, thus sliding the bar 5| out from under the nose 62, and then by the spring 29 rocking the tumblers and 3 on the support bar, this latter movement pushing the bar 5| upwardly by reason of the bevel 38 of the notch 31.

But if any other than this correct combination of tumblers is pulled, such for instance as Nos. 3 and 5, the bar 5| will then be over the notches 35 of tumblers 2 and 4 and it will be over the notch 31 of tumbler No. 3, but a peripheral part of tumbler No. and the peripheral part 39 oftumbler No. 5 will hold the bar 5| in its upper position as it is shown in Fig. 1. Continued movement of the tumblers and consequently of the support bar 2| will cause the bar 5| to be pushed by the lug 36 of tumbler No. 5 towards the left in-Fig. 1 and since the release bar is riding on the peripheral parts of the tumbers it will not go under the nose 62 but will be pushed along the upper face of the arm 6| and under the plate spring 63. The friction of the plate spring will hold the release bar 5| in that position as the tumblers are returned to their initial positions and until such time as the return bar 54 pulls the release bar back as will be hereinafter described.

The correct secondary combination, which is determined by the position of the blocks 3| in their respectivetumblers, in the form shown in v Fig. 1, is |-2, that is, tumblers and 2, and none of the others, must be pulled to operate the secondary combination.

Of course if this secondary combination had been pulled when the parts were in the position shown in Fig. 1, instead of the tumblers 3 and 5v as above described, the same initial result would have occurred in that the release bar 5| would have been pushed under the spring 63, but, upon the return movement of the tumblers in this latter instance the return bar 54 would have dropped into the notches 32 all five of which would then be aligned and by reason of the abrupt wall of notches 32 of tumblers 3, 4 and 5 acting on return bar 54 the spring 25 of the support bar would be strong enough to pull the release bar 5| out from under the spring 63 and return that bar to its normal position, that is, to the position shown in Fig. 1. On this return, as the tumblers I and 2 make their final movement caused by the springs 29, the return bar 54 is pushed out of the notches 32 by reason of the bevel 33 of the notches in those two tumblers.

But if any other than the-correct primary or secondary combination is pulled, the bar 5| is pushed under the spring 63 and retained there until the secondary combintaion is pulled. And as long as the release bar is so retained operation of the correct primary combination will have no effect on the release lever 56 and consequently no effect on the release pin 60. In other words, no single manipulation of the lock tumblers thereafter will have any effect in releasing the lock. It requires the two correct combinations to be operated in correct sequence to effect arelease of the look when the release bar 5| is held under the spring 63.

So with the release bar 5| held on top of the release lever 56, under the spring 63, it may be said to be in double locked position, and it can be returned to the single locked position or the normal position in which it is shown in Fig. 1, only by pulling the correct secondary combination. As stated above, the correct secondary combination of the tumblers shown in Fig. 1 is I--2, or in other words, the tumblers I and 2 must be pulled simultaneously and without any of the other three, to effect a return of the bar 5|. When these two tumblers I and 2 are pulled all five of the notches 32 are in line and then a continued movement of the support bar 2| and all ofthe tumblers causes these five notches to take a position under the return bar 54 and that bar drops into the notches so that as the operator releases the support bar 2| its spring 25 overcomes the friction of spring 63 and permits the return bar 54 to return the release bar 5| to its normal position. If the correct primary combination is then pulled, that is tumblers and 3, the bar 5| will drop into the aligned notches and a continuedmovement of the support bar 2| will push the release bar 5| under the nose 62 and release the look, as shown in Fig.2. But if any other combination is pulled at that time the bar 5| will again be pushed under the spring 53 and the mechanism will again be double locked. Thus it will be seen that with the parts in the position shown in Fig. 1, which may be called the single locked position, a single continuous movement of the correct tumblers, and 3, will release the lock, but an incorrect movement will double lock the combination and it will then require the correct manipulation of bothcombinations in proper sequence to release the lock.

With five tumblers as shown herein, there are thirty-one different combinations that may be used for the primary combination. Thus the combination may be 1, 1--2, 1-3, 2-4-5, etc, And, of course, there are the same number of secondary combinations. If the lock is left in its single locked position, as in Fig. 1, one attempting to defeat the lock has one chance in thirtyone of guessing the right combination the first time. But if he makes a. mistake the first time and operates an incorrect combination the mechanism is then double lockedv and then the correct secondary combination must be pulled followed by the correct primary combination, without any erroneous combinations between them. Thus, with the mechanism in its double locked position the number has been squared and there are a possible 961 combinations, that is, 31x31. This is a sufficient number of combinations to make the lock substantially undefeatable. Of course, the user of the lock may leave it in either of the two positions, that is, either the single locked position or the double locked position. If left in the single locked position'it is necessary to make but one movement'to trip the lock and since there are thirty-one combinations this is a comparatively safe condition. But if he wishes to make it safer the user may, after setting the lock, pull a wrong combination, thus pushing the release bar 5| under the spring 63 and setting the double combination. When he returns to operate the lock it will then be necessary for him to make two movements to release the lock, that is, he must first manipulate the secondary combination and then follow with the primary combination.

Referring to the form of the invention shown in Figs. 5 to 9 inclusive, a portion of an automobile is shown with the invention adapted to the ignition lock thereof. In Fig. 5 the automobile body is indicated at I20, the engine at |2|, and other parts are a battery I22, a ground I23, a circuit wire I24 to a switch I 25, another circuit wire I26 to another switch I21, and a cir-v The combination lock is shown at I3I, in connection with the switch I25, and these partsare shown in detail in the other figures. mobile instrument board I32 extends downwardly from the cowl I33, and the locking mechanism is further encased'b-y the dash I 34 and a supporting plate I35 for a guard I35, the latter making it difiicult or impossible to examine the The autofinger pieces of the lock to help in guessing at 75 the correct combination. Other desirable casing or enclosing means may be provided as suits the construction or adaptation. V 1

In Fig. 6 the switch I25 is shown in detail, comprising contact fingers I40 which are connected to the wires I24 and I28 and which are joined by a switch member I4I to place the ignition in on position, assuming, of course, that the switch I21 is already closed. A'spring I42 presses the switch member I4I yieldingly towards the right to make the contact and a switch bar I 48 is connected to the member I4I to compress the spring and break the contact. In Fig. 6 the switch is shown in its off position, being held in that position by a spring pressed bolt I44 operating in a slot I45 against a stop I46. It will be seen that if the bolt I44 is pushed upwardly against its spring the switch bar I43 will be released and the switch I25 will be closed. A support I41 encloses the switch and switch bar and a pin-and-slot connection I48 limits the movement of the bar.

The support I41 also supports a trip lever I50 which is pivoted at II to a slide I52, which slide is yieldingly held in either of its two positions by a spring pressed ball device I53. The trip lever has a nose I54 which in normal position is directly under the bolt I44 and it will be seen that if the trip lever I50 is pushed upwardly the bolt I44 will be pushed out of the slot I 45 and the switch bar I48 will be released and its spring I42 will move it to the position shown in dotted lines, that is, the switch closed position. But if the trip lever I50 is positioned so that its nose I54 is out of line with the bolt I44, as it may be by moving the slide I52 to the left, operation of the trip lever I50 will have no effect on the bolt I44 and it will not, therefore, release the switch bar.

Means for oscillating the trip lever I50 are shown in the form of a vertically reciprocating bar I55 and a link I56, the-bar being supported in a bearing I51 on the casing.

Means for moving the trip lever laterally of the bolt I44 are shown in the form of a lever I60 pivoted at I6I to a suitable part of the casing and provided with a pin I62 operating in a slot I63 in the trip lever I50. A spring I64 yieldingly retains the trip lever I50 and its slide I52 in the position shown, that is, the position with the nose I54 under the bolt I44. The lever I60 has an arm I55 by which it may be operated, and another arm I58 and a pin I61, the latter cooperating with a pivoted latch I68 supported on the casing at I69 by which it may be held in the position in which it is shown in Fig. 9, which is the position of the trip lever I50 out from under the bolt I44. In Fig. 9 the latch I68 is not holding the lever I60 in that position as the parts are there shown in the position about to release the lever.

Also suitably mounted on the support I41 is a casing I shown as pivoted at HI and preferably so that it may be removed therefrom for changing the combination or for other purposes. This casing has a lug I12 in contact with the short arm I13 of a lever I14 pivoted at I on a bracket I16 mounted on the instrument panel I32 or otherwise. The long arm I11 of the bell crank lever extends upwardly into the support I41 and in contact with the switch bar I43. As shown the casing I10 rests by gravity on the arm I13 but it may, if desired, be pressed yieldingly downward' by a spring I18 arranged between thebracket' I16 and a lug Son the cas- 'ing. It will be understood that this spring is not sufiicient to overcome switch spring I42 and the latter will operate the switch bar I43 regardless of the weight of the casing I10 and its spring I18. In order to overcome the spring I42 and open the switch I25, the operator must push the casing I10 as by pressing on the toe I80 thereof.

The combination lock mechanism is mounted within a box part I8I of the casing I10. Near the upper part thereof is a movable plate I82 pivoted at I83 and having an upwardly extending arm I84, which arm rests normally against a stop I85, though the weight of the plate I82 tends to rock the arm I84 toward the right or to its dotted line position in Fig. 6. The plate I82 is supported in its full line position by one or more of a series of tumblers I86, five being shown in this form of the invention. The tumblers are'supported in guides I81, I88 and I89 and their lower ends rest on pivoted plates I90, there being one such plate for each tumbler. A spring I! for each latter plate presses it yieldingly against a stop I92 into the position shown in full lines in Fig. 6, these plates being pivoted co-axially on a rod I83, and each plate having a dial or finger piece I94 projecting through the bottom of the box part of the casing I10 where they are accessible to the operator. These finger pieces are numbered respectively I, 2, 3, 4 and 5.

Each of the tumblers I86 has a straight portion sliding in the guides and an ofiset portion I 95 at its lower end, these tumblers being reversible so that the offset end may be made to rest against either the front or'the rear of the upturned faces of the plates IQIland the positions of these offsets determines the combination. Thus some of the offsets are at the rear and some are at the front, and in order to pull the correct combination the finger pieces of only those tumblers having their offsets at the rear, must be pulled. With the plates I90 in their rest position the plate I82 is supported in its normal position by those tumblers having their offsets at the rear, and for the sake of simplicity only one of the thumblers is so shown. This is the tumbler resting on the plate of finger piece No. 2. The other tumblers have their offsets on the front or lower parts of their respective plates I90 and consequently the upper ends of those tumblers are in the lower position. This means that the primary combination of this formof the invention is 2, that is, the dial or finger piece No. 2 only should be pulled to operate the primary combination. If that finger piece, and that finger piece only, is pulled (that is, moved to the right in Fig. 6) its tumbler I86 will drop down and permit the plate I 82 to follow, thus moving the arm I84 toward the right so that it is directly under the reciprocatingbar I55. Now if the pull on the finger piece is continued so that the entire casing I10 is rocked on its pivot I1I, into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 6, the arm I84 will push upwardly on the bar I55 and this through the link I56 will oscillate the trip lever I50 so that its nose I54 will push the bolt I44 out of the slot I45 and release the switch bar I43, and the spring I42 will move the switch bar I43 to the right and close the switch I25 at the points I4I. This, of course, closes the ignition circuit of the engine and the switch will remain in that position until it is again set by pushing downwardly on the toe I80 as above described. I

But if anything but the correct combination is pulled the plate I82 will remain in its full line position in Fig. 6 and the rocking of the casing I10 will cause the' arm I84 to contact with the arm I65 on the lever I60 and that lever will be rocked so that the pin I62 moves toward the left and carries with it the trip lever I50 and its slide I52. This moves thenose I54 of-the lever I50 out from under the bolt I44 and consequently any operation of the trip lever in that position will have no effect upon the bolt I44and will not release the switch bar.

When the combination is thus incorrectly operated and the trip lever I50 is moved to its left hand position, the latch I68 drops down over the pin I61 and positively retains the lever I60 and consequently the trip lever I50 in that position when the casing I10 is returned to its original position.

Means is provided for returning the trip lever I50 to its operative position, this means being shown as a secondary combination mechanism. It comprises a plate I! similar to the plate I82 except that its forward part is slotted to provide clearance for the primary tumblers I86. This plate IOI extends forwardly to a position between the guides I81 and I88, its spaced forward ends being shown particularly in Fig. '1. It is pivoted on the casing at I02 and it has an upwardly extending arm I03 similar to the arm I84 of the plate I82. In the normal position .of the plate I 0! the armI03 rests against a stop I04 and its upper end is beneath a dummy push bar I05 backed by a spring I06. When the plate IIlI moves on its pivot as will be hereinafter described the upper end of its arm I03 will be directly beneath a flange or other part I0I of the latch I68 so that upward movement of the arm I 03 will push the latch upwardly and release the pin I61 if the pin is being held by the latch. A series of secondary tumblers I08, similar to the primary tumblers I86, are supported in the guides I88, I89, and the lower ends thereof are offset as at I09 and rest on the respective plates I00, above described. These secondary tumblers I08 are arranged adjacent the primary tumblers I86 as shown particularly in Fig. 7. As with the other tumblers, these tumblers I08 may be set in either of two positions for'the purpose of fixing the desired secondary combination. Their action is the same as the primary tumblers I86. The plate ml is supported by these secondary tumblers and by the correct manipulation of the finger pieces I94 the tumblers that are holding the plate MI in its upper position will be dropped down and the plate will drop so that its arm I03 will be in position for tripping the latch I68. As shown the secondary combination is 1, as the oif-set portion of this tumbler istowards the rear, thus making it necessary to pull dial or finger piece No. I in order to lower the tumbler. Whenthis is done and the casing I is rocked the arm I03 will trip the latch I68 and, if the lever I60 has previously been held in its latched position, it will be returned to its normal position by its spring I64. Of course it carries with it thetrip lever I50 and restores it to its operative position. Then if this manipulation of the secondary combination is followed (without interposition of any other combination) by a manipu lation of the correct primary combination, the bolt I44 will be operated and the switch bar I43 moved to its on position. I

In Figs. 6 and 9 the stops II 0 are provided within the spring I18, forthe purpose of guiding that spring and to limit the swinging of the casing I10 in an upward direction. There is also provided between the bracket I16 and the casing I10 a dummy ratchet IIZ, merely for confusing the sound or feel caused by the movement of the various levers and latches in the operation of the mechanism. This makes it more difficult to ascertain whether a part is operating or not and the lock is, therefore, less likely to be defeated.

A somewhat similar ofiice is performed by the dummy plunger I05 in that the resistance of the spring I06 may be made substantially the same as that of the gravity operated latch I68, or the latch may be spring pressed to make its resistance substantially the same as that of the spring I06. This is so that one trying to defeat the lock will not know whether he has hit upon the correct secondary combination or not. For the same reason the tension of the spring I64 and the spring behind the bolt I04 may be substantially the same so that one cannot tell by feel whether one or the other spring is being depressed.

In Fig. 6 the mechanism is shown in full lines in its rest position with the trip lever I50 in single combination position. In dotted lines the correct primary combination has been pulled and the plate I 82 has dropped so that the arm I84 is under the bar I55 and has pushed that bar and consequently the trip-lever I 50 into position for releasing'the switch bar I43. Also, the switch bar is shown in dotted lines in its released position and the lever I14 is in its retracted position ready to push the switch bar I 43 towards the left 'upon downward swinging of the casing been pulled by the finger of the operator. The switch bar I43 is in off position and the trip lever I50 is in double locked position. By thus operating finger piece No. I, which is the correct secondary combination, plate IOI has dropped and its arm I03 moved over under flange I01 of the latch I68 and the latch has been moved upwardly to release thepin I61. The lever I 60 is held in its position by the arm I84 but as soon as the operator releases the casing the latter will drop and with it the arm I84 and arm I85, and spring I64 will move lever I60 towards the right and thus restore trip lever I50 to its normal or single locked position. It is then that a manipulation of the primary combination will operate the bolt I44 and throw the switch.

Referring to the third form of the invention, that shown in Figs. 10 to 16 inclusive, the invention is shown as adapted to a door handle, and in particular to a door handle for an automobile. In this construction, which is illustrative only, no attempt has been made to show a commercial form of the invention. Thus parts of the device shown are made integral where perhaps they should be made in several pieces and secured together so that they could be more easily assembled. Changes may be made to adapt the device to any one of the various forms of door handles.

In Fig. 10 a portion of an automobile 20I is shown and two handles 202 are arranged thereon. Each of these handles is preferably of the well known type that is held in horizontal position against a stopand may be moved perhaps thirty degrees against a spring for the purpose of releasing the lock or door latch. Locking is obtained by releasing the shank of the door handle from the latch mechanism so that the handle may be turned without moving the latch, a spring being provided to return the handle to In Fig, 9 the secondary combination has just,

its horizontal position. When thus locked the operation of the handle'is merely idle and the release is not eifected. To unlock the door the conventional key lock is turned and the handle is connected to the release mechanism so that thereafter when thehandle is turned it will move the release mechanism and permit the door to be opened.

Referring to Fig. 11, 203 represents a portion of the door in which the handle 202is mounted, this handle being retained on the door and adapted to be rotated relatively thereto, as by an escutcheon plate 204. This plate is secured in place by one or more'screws 205 and is provided with an annular recess 206 housing a fiange 201 on the-inner end of the shank 208 of the door handle.

The door 203 is formed-with a cylindrical opening 209 therethrough and is cut away at 2!!) to form arecess for the lock release mechanism, part of which in the form of a sleeve is shown at 2! I. Partial rotation, thirty degrees or thereabouts, of this sleeve 2H will release the lock or door latch.

A back plate 2l2 is secured in place over the opening 209 as by the bolts 2 I3.

A'stationary support 2H for a portion of the lock mechanism is mounted concentrically in the opening 209 and secured, as by a key 2l5, to the back plate 2l2. Surrounding the support '2I4 is a' collar 2l6 to which'the sleeve 2H is keyedas by the key 2H. Thus the turning of the collar 2| 6 will carry with it'the sleeve 2H, and both of these may be turned upon and relative to the stationary support 2I4. Adjacent its inner end the interior' of the shank'of the door handle is formed with an annular groove 2!!! in which a split ring 2l9 may be sprung for the purpose of retaining the handle and the collar 2I6 in proper relation to each other but so that one can turn on the other.

The door handle itself comprises the cylindrical shank portion 208., above referred to, and the hollow hand hold portion 220 is arranged at right angles thereto. All of the lock mechanism is mounted in these handle parts.

The stationary support 2l'4 extends entirely through the collar member 216 and at its inner end it is formed with a radial arm. 22! upon which is a re-entrant stop pin 222; It is also provided with a radial supporting arm 223 having a re-entrant stop 224, in parallel with the stop 222. As shown, these stops operate in ,an arcuate slot 225 in the inner face of the collar member 2 l6, and also extending into the slot 225 are twostops 226 and 22! mounted on a bracket 228 on the shank 202 of the handle. Stop 226 op erates between stops 222 and 224, thus limiting the operation of the handle to approximately thirty degrees. A coil spring 220' is arranged between stops 221 and 224 to yieldingly retain the handle in its horizontal position. Thus the handle is arranged to operate to a limited degree by reason of this interconnection with the stops on the stationary support 2 l4.

The inner portion of the collar 216 is somewhat enlarged and in addition to the arcuate slot 225 heretofore referred to, it is formed with a second arcuate slot 230 formed with parallel flanges 231 and 232 leaving a narrower slot 233 between them. These flanges are cut away to form radial notches 234 and 235, this construction permitting the entrance of a lock bar 235 having a cross head 231, which look bar is mounted to slide longitudinally of the shank of the handle in the bracket 228 and another bracket 238, also in the -in the slots-230 and 233.

shank. "When the lock bar 236 is in its upper position, as shown in Fig. 11, the handle may be rotated and the lock bar will travel idly around But if the lock bar is dropped down to the position in which it is shown in dotted lines with its cross head 23! in the plane of the flanges 23L 232, that is, in the notches 234, 235, rotation of the handle will then carry with it the collar 2|6 and the latter will be rotated throughout the thirty degrees and will take with it also the sleeve 2!! which will thereby release the doorlatch or bolt. This means that the door handle is operative to release the latch only when the lock bar 236 is in its lower position, and operation of the handle when the lock bar is in its upper position will avail nothing. Thus in Fig. 11 the mechanism is shown in full lines in door locked position;

The primary combination mechanism for releasing the door, which means mechanism for dropping the lock bar 236 to its lower position, comprises a rocking plate 240, pivoted in the handle shank as at 241 shown particularly in Fig. 14, which plate has an arm 242 connecting it to the lower end of the lock bar 236 through a link 243. A spring 244 tends to draw the bar 236 downwardly and this will happen when there is not suificient counteracting force operating to move the plate 240*in the other direction.

Supported for limited longitudinal reciprocation in the bracket 228 and in another bracket 245, separated therefrom and mounted in the shank of the handle, are the combination tumblers 246, in' the present form three of these tumblers being shown. The lower ends of the tumblers extend through the bracket 245 and each is provided with a head 241 between which and the bracket 245 is a coil spring 248. Thus these springs constantly press the tumblers 246 downwardly.

The tumblers are operated by finger pieces 249, which are numbered I, 2 and 3 respectively, these finger pieces being. in the form of lever arms pivoted as shown at 250. to a plate portion 25! which may be a detachable part of the hand hold portion 220 of the handle. Screws 252 are shown for retaining the plate. The inner ends of these lever arms or finger pieces rest against the respective ends of the tumblers 246 and when these finger pieces are moved by the fingers of the operator the tumblers 246 are moved upwardly 1 against the action of their springs 248.

Upon each'of the tumblers 246 is a tumbler lug 253 and these lugs may be mounted on the tumblers in either of two positions, the lugs being formed with spaced pins 254 entering corresponding holes in the tumblers. In Fig. 11 tumbler No. I has its lug 253 mounted on the left hand side and above the plate 240 so that its contact point 255 rests against the left hand plate portion of the plate 240 and the spring 248 of this tumbler, being stronger than the spring 244 of the lock bar, tilts the plate 240 to the full line position in which it is shown in Fig. 11. The tumbler lug of tumblers 2 and -3 are on the other side of the tumblers and below the plate 240 and as long as they remain in that'position they will not interfere with the plate 240 turning on its pivot to the lower position of the lock bar 236. But should either of these tumblers be moved upwardly, as by operating finger pieces 2 or 3, the plate 240 would be prevented from turning to its unlocked position even though tumbler No. l was operated.

From this it will be seen that the correct primary combination of this form of the invention is 1 and if finger piece No.! is operated tumbler lug No. will be moved upwardly and lock bar 236 will drop to its dotted line position where its cross head is in the notches in the flanges 23!, 232. Turning of the handle will then carry around with it the collar 2!6 and the latch release sleeve 2! I. Release of the handle and finger piece will return the parts to their normal posi-' tions. If any other than this correct combination is pulled the lock bar 236 will not be dropped and the handle will be rotated idly and the door cannot be opened. Also, the combination may be changed by dismounting a lug 253 from its position on the tumbler 2&6 and reversing it and mounting it in the opposite position on the same tumbler. This may be done with all of the tumblers.

Means is provided for throwing out of operation the primary combination until such time as a secondary combination returns the mechanism to its original position. In other words, this means will change the mechanism from a single combination lock to a double combination lock.

On the radial arm 223 of the stationary'support H4 is a boss 26!] in which is supported to oscillate a rock shaft 26H. A pin 262 retains the shaft in position and two spring pressed balls 263 yieldingly hold the rock shaft in either one or the other of its two positions. g

The rock shaft 26! is preferably mounted within the handle shank on the side opposite to the lock bar 236 so that it will not interfere with the operation thereof. Adjacent its lower end and preferably below the mounting of the plate 24!] the rock shaft 26! has secured thereon a bracket 264. The securing means may be a screw 265. This bracket is shown in Figs. ll, 12, 13, 14 and 14m. It is somewhat segmental in shape and is provided with a radial slot 266 in which a pin 26'! mounted on the left hand side of the plate 246 is adapted to freely operate vertically when the bracket 264 is in its normal or single lock position. It is so shown in Figs. 11, 13 and 14. It will be understood that the rock shaft 26!, being mounted on the stationary support 2 !4 does not oscillate with the handle as does the plate 246 and the other mechanism within the handle. So when the han- (He is moved the pin 26'! moves relatively to the bracket 264 and moves that bracket if the pin is in a plane with any of the parts of that bracket. When the primary combination is correctly operated and the handle turned the plate 240 will be in its dotted line position in Fig. 11 and the pin 26! will then be entirely above the bracket 264 so that there is no operation of the latter. But if the handle is turned when the incorrect primary combination has been operated the plate 240 will be in its full line position in Fig. 11 and the pin 26'! will press against a downwardly extending flange 268 (Fig. 13) on the bracket 262 and swing the bracket, and consequently the rock shaft 26!, so that the bracket assumes the position shown in Fig. 14a. In that position it will be seen from Fig. 14a that the pin 26'! is under the segmental portion 269 of the bracket 264 and when the handle returns and the pin 26'! also returns to its original position the pin will still be under the segmental portion 269 of the bracket. In this latter position the pin 26'! is shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1.4a. Thus, if this primary combination has been incorrectly operated the pin 26'! is under the segment 269 and even though the primary combination were then correctly operated the pin would prevent the plate 240 from assuming its unlocked position because of this through a similar opening in plate 26!].

the wrong side of the flange 268 by this possible unusual operation of the mechanism.

The rock shaft 265 is retained in this shifted position, which is its double locked position, by one of the spring pressed balls 263 above referred to. It can be returned to its original position, to its single locked position, by a secondary combination mechanism which may be operated by the same finger pieces and by the same tumblers 246. Thus there is a secondary plate 236 pivotally supported in spaced relation above the plate 26!], and the tumblers 246 pass upwardly through the central opening in this plate just as they pass Plate 286 is yieldingly held in its operative position by a spring 28! extending between its right hand side and the bracket 228. But this operative position is not its normalposition. Normally the plate 286 is as shown in full lines in Fig. 11 and it is adapted to be moved from this position only upon the pulling of the correct secondary combination. Thus, each of the tumblers 266 has its corresponding tumbler lug 282 (which is re versible like the other tumblers), and the one (or more) of them which is to be operated to place the plate 280 in operative position is mounted on the right hand side of the'tumbler. Thus, as shown, the secondary combination is 3 and the No. 3 tumbler lug 282 is mounted on the right hand side' of its particular tumbler. If that tumbler is raised by depressing No. 3 finger piece the' tumbler lug 232 will be moved upwardly and will permit the plate 286 to rock on its axis-through the action of the spring 26!. This movement of the plate 286 brings a pin 223. which is mounted on it, down into the dotted line position shown in Fig. 11 where it rests on the beveled edge of a segmental bracket 28d mounted on the rock shaft 26!. If the handle is now turned the pin 283 will ride along the bevel 285 of this-bracket 285 until it drops behind the shoulder 286 thereof, the spring 26! yielding slightly for this purpose, and then as the handle is returned to its normal position the pin 263, acting against the shoulder 286, will oscillate the bracket 28 i and with it the rock shaft 26! and bracket 264 back to their original position. This bracket 286 is particularly shown in Figs. ll, l2, 13, 15 and 1541. In all of these figures. except 15a, it is shown in its normal or single locked position but in l5a. the bracket is in its double locked position and the pin 283 has just dropped behind the shoulder 286 of the bracket. In dotted lines the pin 283 has returned to its original position as it is shown in Fig. 15. As the rock shaft is thus.

retracted or returned to its original position the other spring pressed ball 2'63 operates to retain it there until it is again operated by the incorrect manipulation of the primary combination.

Thus it will be seen that by the correct manipulation of the primary combination a single movement of the handle with the operators fingers on the right combination of finger pieces will immediately operate the lock and unlatch the door. Butif the incorrect combination is used the plate 240 will be in the wrong position and consequentlythe lock bolt 236 will be free in the slot 236 and movement of the handle will not operate the lock sleeve 2| I. Also, this movement of the handle will, through the pin 26! and the bracket 264, rock the shaft 26] so that the plate 24!] cannot thereafter be moved to operative position until the rock shaft ZBI has been returned. This latter can be done only by correct manipulation of the secondary combination whereby the plate 280 will be moved to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 11 and. the pin 283 will ride the bevel 285 and drop behind the shoulder 288 and on the return movement rock the shaft 26l back to its original position. If the next operation of the handle is with the correct primary combination the lock bolt 2% will be dropped into operative position and the latch will be released and the door opened.

It will be observed also that if the vehicle upon which this look handle is installed has been left with the lock in the single locked position, and the owner upon returning to his car finds that it cannot be opened by the single manipulation of the primary combination, he knows that someone has been tampering with the look. This will suggest to him the desirability of double locking the mechanism the next time or of finding a safer place for his car.

It will be understood that various forms of the invention other than those described above may be used without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a combination lock, the combination of a movable support, tumblers and operating means therefor mounted therein, a member operated by said tumblers and movable with said support, a rock shaft mounted on a stationary part, means for rocking said shaft to render said member ineffective upon movement of said support with incorrect operation of the tumblers, and means for restoring the rock shaft to its original position.

2. In a combination lock, the combination of a movable support, tumblers and operating means therefor mounted therein, a member operated by said tumblers and movable with said support, a rock shaft mounted on a stationary part, means for rocking said shaft to render said member ineffective upon movement of said support with incorrect operation of the tumblers, a second member operated by said tumblers and movable with said support, and means controlled by said second member for restoring the rock shaft to original position.

3. In a combination lock, the combination of a door handle, a set of tumblers mounted therein, finger pieces for operating the tumblers, a plate operated by the tumblers, a lock bar operated by said plate, means for holding said plate in inoperable positio-n upon incorrect manipulation of said tumblers, a second plate operated by said tumblers, and means operated by said second plate for releasing said holding means upon a predetermined manipulation of said tumblers.

l. In locking means, the combination of two tumblers, a lock part to be moved by a preselected operation of said tumblers, and means to effect such movement, said tumblers and means being so related that one selected operation of said tumblers will move said part and any other operation thereof will change the relationship of the parts so that'thereafter a different operation 'of the tumblers will be necessary to move said part.

5. In locking means, the combination of two tumblers, a lock part to be moved by a preselected operation of said tumblers, and means to effect such movement, said tumblers and means being so related that one selected operation of said tumblers will move said part and any other operation thereof will change the relationship of the parts so that thereafter a selected combination operation of the tumblers will be necessary to move said part.

6. In locking means, the combination of two tumblers, a lock part to be moved by a preselected operation of said tumblers, and means to effect such movement, said tumblers and means being so related that one selected operation of said tumblers will move said part and any other operation thereof will change the relationship of the parts so that thereafter a selected combination operation of the tumblers in a particular sequence will be necessary to move said part.

7. In locking means, the combination of two tumblers, a lock part to be moved by a preselected operation of said tumblers, and means to effect such movement, said tumblers and means being so related that one selected operation of said tumblers willmove said part and any other operation thereof will change the relationship of the parts so that thereafter a resetting operation without the desired movement of said lock part will be required before the original selected operation will properly move the part.

8. In locking mechanism, the combination with a release part, of a combination look therefor, including means whereby a single incorrect manipulation effects an increase in the number of possible inoperative combinations of the lock.

9. In locking mechanism, the combination with a release part, of a combination lock therefor, including means whereby a single incorrect manipulation of which squares the number of possible combinations of the lock.

10. In locking mechanism, the combination with a release part, of a combination look therefor, including means whereby a single incorrect manipulation effects an increase in the ratio of possible operative combinations to possible inoperative combinations;

11. In locking mechanism, the combination with a release part, of a combination lock therefor, a single incorrect manipulation of which effects a change in the operative combination of the lock.

12. Two combination lock devices so interconnected that the correct combinations must be ioperated in sequence to release the locked par 13. Two combination lock devices so interconnected that the incorrect manipulation of one will require the correct manipulation of both to release the locked part.

14. Two combination lock devices so interconnected that the incorrect manipulation of one will require the correct manipulation of both in proper sequence to release the locked part.

15. The lock mechanism including rotary tumblers, a release bar operated thereby, means for holding the release bar in inoperative position, and a return bar cooperating with said tumblers and said release bar to return the release bar to its operative position;

16. In a lock mechanism, the combination of a plurality of tumblers, a plurality of devices operated by the tumblers, and means: including interconnections between said devices for rendering one of them inoperative and for returning the latter to operative position after having been rendered inoperative.

17. In a combination lock, the combination with a plurality of finger pieces, tumblers for the finger pieces, and a movable plate operated by the finger pieces, of a second movable plate and a second set of tumblers operated by the same finger pieces for another combination operation, and means affected by operation of said plates.

18. In a combination lock, the combination with finger pieces, tumblers for the finger pieces, and a movable plate operated by the finger pieces, of a lock release mechanism to be operated by said movable plate, means rendering said mechanism inoperable upon incorrect manipulation of said tumblers, a second set of tumblers operated by said finger pieces, and means operated by said second set of tumblers for restoring said mechanism to operable position.

19. In a combination lock, the combination with finger pieces, tumblers for the finger pieces, and a movable plate operated by the finger pieces, of a lock release mechanism to be operated by said movable plate, means rendering said mechanism inoperable upon incorrect manipulation of said tumblers, a second set of tumblers. operated by said finger pieces, a second movable plate cooperating with said second set'of tumblers, and means operated by said second plate for restoring said mechanism to operable position.

20. In a combination lock, the combination of a set of finger pieces, two sets of tumblers for said finger pieces, an operating plate for one set of tumblers and an operating plate for the other set of tumblers, and means affected by operation of said plates.

21. In a combination lock, the combination of a set of finger pieces, two sets of tumblers for said finger pieces, an operating plate for one set of tumblers and an operating plate for the other set of tumblers, means operated by one plate for either a releasing movement or an additional locking movement, and means operated by the other plate for reversing said additional locking movement.

22. In a combination lock, the combination of. several tumblers, means for manipulating various combinations of said tumblers, means effecting release of the look by manipulation of a selected one of said combinations of tumblers and rendering said combination ineffective by manipulation of any other of said combinations, and means for restoring the efiectiveness of said release means by manipulation of a selected one of said combinations which may or may not be the same as the first said selected combination.

23. In a lock mechanism, the combination of a movable lock member, a combination lock having a pivoted member and tumblers on the pivoted member, means whereby correct manipulation of the tumblers and pivoting of the pivoted member in one direction will release the lock member, and pivoting of the pivoted member in the reverse direction will lock the lock member.

24. In a door handle lock, the combination of a door handle having a shank part and a hand hold part, a movable latch mechanism, a look bar to connect the handle to the latch mechanism whereby the handle may operate the latch mechanism, combination lock mechanism having tumblers in said handle, means connecting the tumblers with the lock bar to hold the bar in disconnected position, and finger pieces for operating the tumblers to move the lock bar to its connecting position.

25. In a door handle lock, the combination of a door handle having a shank part and a hand hold part, a movable latch mechanism, a lock bar to connect the handle to the latch mechanism whereby the handle may operate the latch mechanism, combination lock mechanism having tumblers in said handle, means connecting the tumblers with the lock bar to hold the bar in disconnected position, means to operate the tumblers to connect the lock bolt and means whereby an incorrect manipulation of said tumblers renders the first operating means ineffective 26. In a lock mechanism, the combination of tumblers, finger pieces for operating the tumblers, a movable device for operating the lock mechanism after the correct finger piece combination has been efiected, interconnections between the tumblers and said device for effecting unlocking movement of said device with correct combination movement of the finger pieces and for effecting inoperativeness of said movable device with incorrect combination movement of the finger pieces.

27. The combination with a combination lock comprising several movable devices so constructed that a single hand movement of one or more of said devices will release the lock, of means associated therewith for rendering said devices inoperative to release the lock, and means to restore said devices to operativeness, said associated means constructed to operate by a wrong hand movement of the combination lock.

28. The combination with a combination lock comprising several movable devices so constructed that a single hand movement of one or more of said devices will release the lock, of means associated therewith for rendering said devices-inoperative to release the lock, and means for restoring said devices to operativeness, said latter means including part of said devices and comprising devices so constructed that a single hand movement of one or more of them will effect said restoration to operativeness.

29. In a combination lock mechanism, the combination with a lock element, of means for actuating said lock element, said means comprising devices affording several manipulative combinations, the construction and arrangement of said means and devices being such that one only of. said combinations will actuate said lock element and any other of said combinations when manipulated will render the first said combination in effective until the same or another of said combinations has been manipulated.

MILTON TIBBETTS. 

